#but it is the first time vegas is offering something to Pete and put it right in his hands and I am going insane over nothing

[srabaskerville]

Vegas overhearing Pete talks about the food and offering for him immediately

[guzhufuren]

Favourite VegasPete Fics pt.2 (pt.1) (in alphabetical order)

1. Black Velvet by @kerrikins https://archiveofourown.org/series/3158706

Vegas notices Pete watching him during the torture scene. Intrigued and more tempted than he expected to be, he stalks Pete and succeeds in taunting him into coming with Vegas so they can fuck.

It starts off as a cat and mouse game for sex, but when the two of them are finally forced to reckon with the fact that they're on opposite sides, they both find themselves more conflicted and drawn to each other than ever.

2. cause and effect by @sapphicblight https://archiveofourown.org/series/3234285

“Don’t you have better things to do with your time? Other virgins for example,” Pete asks him one time over a guerrilla warfare style lunch date. “Not until next semester,” Vegas laments. “I’ve already exhausted our current student body.” Pete doesn’t even know where to begin unpacking everything wrong with that statement.

Or: the college au in which Vegas is a manwhore with a weird innocence kink and Pete is an inexperienced painslut.

3. Drowning, and other Metaphors https://archiveofourown.org/works/44171761

Vegas has never experienced an afterglow that burns like an oil fire, a sudden and dangerous thing that he can’t quite remember how best to put out past the panic. It doesn’t help that Pete’s smile is like a torrent of cool water on his feverish skin, making the flames jump higher. It makes Vegas want to do something dangerous that he’s never really been good at before – it makes him want to take care of Pete. Problem is, he doesn’t really know how.

4. Holy Palmer's Kiss https://archiveofourown.org/works/41273907

"By the way," says Vegas in English. "Interesting scars you’ve got on your chest." Pete doesn’t tense – he doesn’t – but the leveled manner his gaze slides back up must be enough of a tell because Vegas… "What ? Don’t tell me you thought it wouldn’t come up."

The begining of episode 11 but Vegas zeroes in on Pete's top surgery scars instead of his hip tattoo.

5. i want to wear his initial on a chain round my neck by @dage-mingjue & @stratumgermanitivum https://archiveofourown.org/series/3352987

Pete picks up the chain leash and offers it to Vegas. “So, you never did tell me what you were getting this for.” Vegas takes the chain from Pete’s hands and fixes a dark and sultry look on him. “This? Oh, it’s for bad boys who misbehave.” And with that he gives one last smirk before walking out the front door, leaving Pete an absolute mess behind the counter. *** “Pete,” Porsche says, in a very slow voice, like Pete is a particularly small child. “He was hitting on you.” Pete blinks. “He what now?” — Or; Vegas adopts a puppy.

6. Sharing Different Heartbeats by @raelle-writing https://archiveofourown.org/works/40549581

Of course Vegas noticed Pete. But not with much weight. Sure, Pete was hot. But so were all of the rest of Kinn’s bodyguards. That wasn’t notable. It wasn’t worth more than a passing once-over, or an absent glance at the man’s ass in those suits they insisted on wearing. He had a nice ass, but it didn’t stick in Vegas’ mind. It was passing lust, nothing more. And he certainly wasn’t hotter than the other bodyguards– not Porsche, for example. The only thing notable about Pete was that he had a surprisingly soft, cute face, and a sunny, disarming smile. He looked far too soft for his job. But he was Tankhun’s head bodyguard, and one of the men that Kinn often tapped for important missions. Which meant that the cute, soft face was hiding real talent and skill. So yes, Vegas noticed Pete. But it didn’t mean anything.

OR: a retelling of the story from Vegas' POV, from first impressions until after the hospital.

7. The King Must Die https://archiveofourown.org/works/41144892

“It’s fine,” Macau assures Vegas, whose very soul feels plunged into turmoil. Tear-bright eyes, a faint handprint on his sheltered face, and Macau tries to comfort Vegas. “It’s fine, I promise.” Vegas would kill for his brother, indiscriminately. He’s just now realising quite what that means.

(The queer experience of having an ill-advised one night stand with your cousin's head bodyguard and then ending up in hiding with him while you plot to kill your father.)

8. The Last Thing Left to Break by @blackwatervial https://archiveofourown.org/works/41053809

Hatred ran deep between the Theerapanyakul and the Saengtham family. It was common knowledge that the two leaders, Khun Vegas and Khun Pete, despised each other and used every small excuse to initiate yet another bloody conflict. Only that no one was really aware what happened behind closed doors…

9. the mortifying ordeal of falling in love by @dage-mingjue https://archiveofourown.org/works/41659146

“If I had to rate you?” Pete pauses and tilts his head with a low hum, considering. “I dunno, a six out of ten? I thought you were a sadist, but you didn’t really give that impression. Are you actually kinky? That didn’t feel kinky. It didn’t do it for me.” Vegas looks like someone punched him. Hard. His cock is still out and his hair is rumpled and he looks devastatingly disheveled, like Pete was the one who just took Vegas apart and not the other way around. “I’d worry that it was just a fluke,” Pete continues, ignoring Vegas’s flabbergasted sputters, “but I also don’t think I’d give you a second time to prove me wrong.” Pete shrugs and fixes his shirt, petting back his hair. “Anyway, see you around.” — Or a fic in which Vegas fucks through all of Kinn’s bodyguards and lands on Pete, but Pete uno reverses it on Vegas leaving Vegas wanting so much more. Vegas gets humiliated and has to work for it.

[vegascriesduringsex]

au where pete is trying assplay for the first time by himself. and he doesn't know shit about shit so he uses a regular vibrator. and it gets stuck up his ass. so he goes to. idk reddit or something to ask for help as to what to do. enter vegas, who has taken macau to the dentist and is scrolling thai gay bro reddit idly, and sends him a dm all "message me privately, I'll help you out" and pete deletes the original post bc he's embarrassed as hell and this guy seems like he knows what he's talking about.

anyways vegas is a creep about it and rather than help him, he just keeps asking increasingly invasive questions about how this happened and what it feels like. and pete might be a little stupid but he's not THAT stupid (his roommate just died! he's coping with the grief! also his room is just his for who even knows how much longer, he was making good of a limited-time opportunity!) so he's like fuck off weirdo and blocks vegas.

he ends up going to the tk group hospital and bribing a nice nurse with his grandma's thai desserts (and she NEVER sends those usually and they were SO good and pete is STILL bitter about that) to help him dig the vibrator out of his ass, where it has not yet reached the point where he needs surgery, thankfully.

none of this has any impact on the plot whatsoever, everything is exactly the same from that point on, except that when pete is tending to vegas in the hospital post-canon, he, at one point, brings him his laptop. and when he offers to put on whatever the thai version of jackass is for vegas, vegas is all croakily like, "yeah, thank you baby" only for pete to be greeted immediately with vegas's open browser windows. these windows are, in order:

-an open cart with an obscenely large amount of money about to drop on various hedgehog snacks

-a series of tabs containing gay pornographies so vile that they just about singe pete's eyebrows off

-and vegas's open reddit account, where pete can see his username, thus leading pete to exclaim in shock and horror,

"YOU'RE sadomafia69?"

[blackwatervial]

The Pete Show.

For my rewatch of The Pete Show (sometimes and more uncommonly known as KinnPorsche The Series La Forte), I will be noting down time stamps in which the main character Pete (from the Pete Show) makes an appearance. I will also, as a little bonus, add appearances of his romantic interest “Vegas”. Today:

Episode 3

After the absolute Pete-fest that was episode 2, treating us with nine glorious Petes, episode 3 is on the lacking side. Still, the Petes it offers are nothing short of spectacular (mostly because Pete is physically incapable of being anything but spectacular)

We have to wait 7 minutes and 22 seconds before seeing our beautiful boy sprawled out on a couch. This Pete is very enabling. The way he looks at Porsche tells us "I am Pete and I am shippable.", which is why, next to canon-shippers, connoisseurs of niche ships also like him very much

The next Pete, who we meet at 21:20, is one we've never seen before. A Pete who deals out violence without flinching, who beats up a guy without batting an eye. He's an antithesis to the characterisation he has presented before, a juxtaposition to himself and the first direct sign that tells the viewer: Watch this space, we are building something great here. These are a lot of words to express that I'm absoltuely feral about this Pete and I want to sink my teeth into him and shake him

Okay enough of this, forget everything I just said!! Because! Now! Comes! Babygirl! Pete!!!! Timestamp 34:10 with a special shoutout to 39:37, my love! Here we see Pete in one of his favourite black-and-white leisure outfits. There is probably some symbolism here about black, white, and shades of grey but I don't care because Look! At! Him!

Are you seeing him? Isn't he just the cutest little guy? I found him at the local shelter and took him home, put him a little enclosure and twice a day I poke him with a stick and make him do fun little tricks!

This episode, despite having not many instances of Pete, captures the very essence of The Pete Show. We have basic Pete, badass Pete, and babygirl Pete all in one package deal. What a Treat!

Previous Pete Show Posts

[yujeong]

Oooo.... VP smut prompt? I would love to see your take on Pete's thoughts/perspective during the first time they have sex post-canon/hospital!

Pixeeeeeel, thank you so much for sending me this prompt, you're so sweet and thoughtful 🥺 This is actually something that's been in my thoughts for as long as I've been a fan of them: VP's first time post-canon is a very, very intriguing subject matter to me, though I believe my view of it isn't that... well, interesting. As I've mentioned before in an Ask Game, I don't believe VP will be having much sex post-canon (or at least not much penetrative sex) due to everything that has happened to them. Now, the following is just one idea that came to me as I was playing with your prompt in my head. I'm insecure af about it, but I'm sharing it regardless because that was the point of asking for prompts in the first place hahaha. [CW: blowjob, handjob, cockwarming]

Pete's head was fuzzy, but not as much as he needed. There was warmth at the pit of his stomach, spreading through him in slow bursts as Vegas was opening him up with his fingers, but it dissipated immediately after every thrust. The noises Vegas was making while sucking Pete off had been tantalizing at first, almost effective, but they were beginning to aggravate him.  It wasn't enough. Fuck, it wasn't enough. Vegas himself had grown rigid below him. He had started this by going slowly, teasing Pete with a good time, but his movements now were frantic and desperate. He looked seconds away from breaking. Pete's breathing had grown shallow.  They had foolishly wanted to recreate it. It was the reason Vegas had used the rope, tying Pete's hands above his head before doing anything else. (He forgot the part where Pete offered the rope to him, and presented his wrists to be bound. He didn't really mind Vegas' transgression. He had made his choice already.) They should have known. This wasn't the same room. They weren't the same people. There was a lot more to mourn than just a tiny hedgehog. "Vegas." It was the third time Pete addressed him. Vegas groaned loudly around his dick, pressing his teeth onto the soft skin. Pete hissed. "Please don't bite it." He was certain it wouldn't hurt as much as the car battery, but he wasn't eager to find out. Vegas gasped as he took Pete's cock out of his mouth. He removed his fingers from Pete's hole and squeezed Pete's thighs aggressively with both hands. His nails dug into them; it would leave marks for sure. "Why aren't you hard?" he yelled, the pain clear in his voice. Pete could see the agony in his eyes, the unshed tears. There wasn't anything he could do about it. "Untie me." He was capable of doing it himself just fine, but that would make everything worse.  Vegas reacted as if he got slapped. "Pete, no, no I can... Pete, I can-" "Vegas," Pete said, his tone harsh. He mellowed it as he added, "it's ok, just untie me." Vegas did so with trembling fingers. Pete could see the thoughts circling around his head. He could almost hear them. Once free, he sprang into action, ignoring the numbness in his hands. He grabbed Vegas' half-hard cock and started stroking it, his movements clumsy and amateurish, his other hand grabbing Vegas' T-shirt in order to bring him closer for a kiss.  Vegas yelped and laughed as he returned it, his breath hot on Pete's lips. He tried to help Pete jerk him off, but Pete didn't let him. It wasn't difficult to get him there, anyway; he was fully hard in a matter of minutes. "You wanted me to fuck you, baby?" Vegas asked with a smug expression plastered on his face. He was staring at Pete and his attempts at putting Vegas' cock inside him, with no success. "You could have just asked." It sounded so fake, Pete barely managed to hide an eye roll. "Don't call me that," he murmured. He could feel his face heating up. "Just... help me out." Vegas smirked and entered Pete with ease, moaning in satisfaction. His eyes fluttered as he did, which gave Pete the advantage he needed to immobilize him, before he could move further. He had Vegas trapped on top of him with nowhere to go, using his limbs to keep him in place - his legs on Vegas' lower back, his arms on Vegas' torso - and his voice to put some sense into the idiot who couldn't see how overexerted he had gotten from all of this. "Vegas, stop struggling, you'll hurt yourself." He didn't listen. He kept fidgeting violently, growling as he bit Pete's shoulder in frustration, trying to break free. He kept at it until he was out of breath, until his muscles gave up on him. Vegas hid his face at the crook of Pete's neck, and cried. Pete relaxed his hold. He was caressing Vegas' oily hair, waiting for him to calm down. "I miss you," he told Pete when he stopped, his voice hoarse from the bile still stuck in his throat. He sounded so small and vulnerable. It made Pete want to cry, too. He couldn't. Instead, he abided by the words that were tattooed on his skin. "I miss you, too."

[thatgirl4815]

“How about you, Pete? How do you like it?”

“You’re a psycho.”

It was 100% intentional to put these lines back to back, because it shows us that what Pete is saying here isn’t really an insult. He’s not trying to stop Vegas here--he’s trying to stop himself. 

“You’re a psycho” really translates to something like, He’s your captor, Pete. Don’t you see what he’s trying to do? It’s a manipulation. 

But we, of course, see how well Pete is able to resist. Vegas leans towards Pete and successfully lures him in, but he still backs off before going any further. I’m not awarding morality points to Vegas here, but I find it incredibly interesting how he says that it’s no fun if Pete doesn’t give in, when Pete was certainly in the process of giving in. The expression on Pete’s face does not look like someone who is turned off by the person in front of them; in fact, if Vegas would’ve continued, I am certain that things would’ve played out similarly. EXCEPT, I think we could’ve seen a difference in the resulting dynamics. 

The scene plays out with Pete fully submitting to Vegas by giving him control of the situation. But if Vegas hadn’t given Pete that option to submit in the first place, I think we would’ve gotten a sex scene, but one that was not nearly as clear-cut as this one. Why? Because it’s necessary to have this exchange of power: Vegas gives control to Pete, and Pete gives control to Vegas. Vegas has to first give up control in order for Pete to offer it back to him. At the same time, Vegas wants Pete to take and then give. He needs Pete to prove that this isn’t just one-sided. 

[veliseraptor]

Top five WIP excerpts

this is just because i wasn't doing a wip meme instead of a top five meme isn't it

1. from Life After Death: “I’m so tired of death,” Xingchen said, his voice wobbling. “I’m so tired of it. You, and a-Qing, and then Xue Yang, and I did nothing to deserve you and a-Qing back, and I never looked for…but he’s here and I can’t stand the thought of losing him. All my struggling, all my searching for answers and closure, everything I ever said about justice, and that’s what it comes down to.” He bowed his head lower. “Xue Yang dying would rip something out of my heart that I can’t bear to lose. Not now.”

Song Lan let out a slow exhale. :I know,: he said again.

“I’m sorry,” Xingchen said.

:Xingchen,: Song Lan said, :I’ve known that, or something near it, since I made the decision to bring him back to life.: He swallowed hard. :You loved him.:

“I don’t want to,” Xingchen said, “but I don’t know how to stop.”

2. from the devil drives: “Bringing a full complement of bodyguards would be too conspicuous,” said Khun Kinn. Khun Vegas smiled and Pete thought oh no. 

“I agree,” he said. “But there is room for a plus one. He knows my staff, and most of your bodyguards, but an unfamiliar face…” Khun Vegas’s eyes drifted very slightly in Porsche’s direction before moving back to Khun Kinn. 

Oh, no, Pete thought again, but with a little more despair this time.

“Take Pete,” Khun Kinn said.

Vegas’s gaze swept to Pete, flicked slowly over him from head to toe. “Isn’t he one of Tankhun’s?” he said. “He won’t be thrilled that you’re loaning out his bodyguard to me.”

“That’s not your problem.”

“Considering Tankhun,” Vegas said, “it actually might end up being my problem.” 

“Pete doesn’t go out as much as some of the other guards,” Kinn said, “so he’s less recognizable. I’m offering you one of our best. Pete’s competent, observant, and I trust him completely.”

Pete might’ve been more flattered if he hadn’t been very aware that he was getting thrown this first and foremost so that Vegas didn’t take Porsche and only secondarily because Kinn trusted him.

3. from post-canon vegaspete long(er) fic: “Let me get you some painkillers?” Pete said.

“I’ll get them myself,” Vegas snapped, but of course he still had to put his clothes back on, which was an ordeal all on its own when he was already like this. He ended up sitting on the toilet with his head down to control the dizziness, fighting back tears of frustration and anger. Pete fled (“I’m going to get you some painkillers,” he said, this time not a question) and Vegas sat there marinating in rancid self-loathing until he came back. 

He took the pills in silence and didn’t look at Pete hovering and radiating anxiety. He bit down on the urge to snap at him hard enough to taste blood and felt like a monster. 

A sexually frustrated monster. 

4. from et ipsi sunt jacula: “Your wound,” Gabriel said, removing his hands, “needs tending.��� 

“And you, with your healer’s hands,” Lymond said. “Ille more suo victus pietate, nec sordes cavit, nec fetorum exhorruit.”

“I make no claims to the miraculous,” Gabriel said. “But such things come first and foremost to the faithful.”

“Accept Christ,” Lymond said, “and my deformities shall disappear. Deny him, and I am cast out of the body public. Is that it?” 

Gabriel knelt, beginning to remove the dressings. “You cast out yourself,” he said mildly. “If you refer to your convalescence…I am given to understand it is exhaustion and overwork that brought on your collapse. You drive yourself hard, my dear.” 

“I do what I must,” said Lymond. “Should I let my opponent set the pace, instead?” 

“Your opponent,” Gabriel said, setting the soiled bandages aside. Lymond made no move to pull away, head turned just slightly to retain view of him as he examined the wound, livid and angry. “Your metaphors are all of war.” He paused, leveling a clear gaze at Lymond. “Is it any surprise there should be casualties, when such is your approach?” 

“You made it so,” Lymond said, suddenly blunt. 

“Did I?” Gabriel asked, smiling very slightly. “From the beginning you greeted me with nothing but hostility. You decided that I was your enemy and have proven unshakeable in that conviction, for all I did to prove I have nothing but your best interests at heart.”

Lymond’s laugh was sharp as a blade. “My best interests, and Scotland’s too?”

5. from Redux: “Let’s watch something,” Xiao Xingchen said. “You can choose. I’ve–” he swallowed hard. “I’ve missed you.” 

“Yeah,” Xue Yang mumbled after another brief silence. “Same here.” He huffed a weak laugh. “Look what you’ve done to me. Made me a sap like you.” 

Xiao Xingchen pulled back just enough to kiss him on the forehead, making Xue Yang wrinkle his nose, and said, “there are worse things to be.” 

“Probably I’m some of those too,” Xue Yang said with a too-quick smile, but Xiao Xingchen let it pass, steering them over to the couch. Xue Yang fell asleep with his head on Xiao Xingchen’s shoulder within a few minutes, and shortly after slid down further to be curled up with his head on Xiao Xingchen’s lap instead. Xiao Xingchen’s chest ached with fondness.

At the same time, something tickled at the back of his mind, an uneasy twinge like he’d forgotten something important, and at the same time it was something he didn’t want to know.

[teenjiism]

hi! as a fellow vp enjoyer i'm confused about something and thought i'd ask u. before p escapes he says he has no feelings but 2 min later he's crying and says he does? was he quoting vegas the first time? because he treated him like an emotionless pet? maybe it's the translation but i didn't really get what pete meant to say here

hi!!

okay, so i think the simple answer is yes, it’s because vegas treated him as a pet, but the longer answer is — it’s not just vegas.

on the surface, pete is a very loved person. he is valued for his loyalty by the main family, he is one of kinn’s most trusted people, he is porsche’s best friend, tankhun loves him to bits and everybody respects him. and while this is all factually true, the issue is, it’s not necessarily pete they value so much; it’s either pete, the loyal bodyguard, pete, the funny guy, pete, a one-dimensional person. there are very few people who see the depths of him despite truly loving him. tankhun loves him so much, yes, but there is still a power imbalance between them, as pete is his bodyguard and he has to jump to do everything tankhun wants.

seemingly nobody ever put in enough work to get to know pete. he is constantly regarded as someone’s something, a piece of their puzzle and not his own masterpiece. pete keeps giving and giving, doing everything for people because that’s who he is. he’s loving, loyal, empathetic, understanding, helpful.

and that’s exactly what happened with vegas. vegas got attached to pete after he saw what pete could offer him. now don’t get me wrong, if anyone, vegas saw through pete’s mask. but caught up in the thrill of having someone see him and not think of him as a monster, of someone offering him affection, he didn’t think to treat pete as his own person. now this, it’s for several reasons, i think. on the one hand, vegas was terrified of losing pete, the one person who accepts him and even likes him, despite everything. he was afraid that if he gave pete the freedom, he wouldn’t choose vegas. and this isn’t because he doesn’t trust pete, it’s because he despises himself so much and has severe abandonment issues. however, on the other hand, i think vegas was never taught how to love. he was barely shown love in his life, it’s no surprise he doesn’t know how to express it to pete amidst the clusterfuck of trauma they’re both going through. it’s not that vegas wouldn’t love pete if he knew him, he absolutely would and will and maybe already does, it’s simply that he doesn’t know him enough yet. he didn’t take the time nor the opportunities to get to know pete.

however, pete’s been putting in the work. he’d been playing therapist, funny guy, nice and caring guy, loyal guy for so long, and was never allowed or given the chance to have his own feelings, always preoccupied with someone else’s. he’s exhausted, he’s tired and his self loathing is on par with vegas’. he is tired of being someone’s something. he is more than empathy, he is more than what he can offer someone and he’s exhausted of being treated as a vessel because as he said — he’s human and he has feelings. he thought vegas would be different but then he kept him chained up, kept him as a prisoner still. he just wants escape from this, in any way shape or form. he wants relief and to be seen.

[minorfamilysupremacy]

for the vp drabble requests: idk if you can even do anything with this since it's only a concept rather than an actual plot idea but i'm personally obsessed w the thought "vegas may sometimes have pete on a literal leash, but the one holding it in their lives and relationship is pete" (something something vegas learning to let someone take care of him and pete gaining agency in his own life)

OP i am so sorry that this is perhaps the most liberal interpretation of the theme possible but i did go hog-wild and write a thousand words of it while off my ass at 2 am so

Vegas understands the human body — the ways in which it works and fails, the ways in which it can be broken apart and stitched together, the paper-thin line between causing pleasure and pain. He understands how easily the same hands that touch Pete with reverence and devotion can be used to maim and destroy.

He looks at Pete, in all of his open, guileless vulnerability, and he thinks: If I didn’t love you so much, I could kill you so easily.

And yet, Pete turns to him, and offers himself up, and puts his life at Vegas’ mercy. He meets Vegas’ eyes and his gaze says, silently, If it’s what you wanted of me, I would gladly die.

—

They do not talk about the angry mass of scar tissue or the nerve damage to Vegas’ arm. He had seen the concern on Pete’s face the first time his body had threatened to give out and he had squeezed Pete’s throat a little harder with his good hand, and that ended the conversation before it had a chance to start.

He understands his own body and wishes he didn’t. He knows its pains and twinges and itches and its untold, unceasing miseries. He knows how to shove down the constant scream that builds in his gut and claws at his insides. He knows that there’s a great void inside him that hurts and hurts and hurts and that can’t be sated or calmed. He lies awake at night, Pete nestled close against him, and imagines smashing the useless meat and bone of his arm into a bloody pulp. It makes him feel good, or as good as he can, to think of tearing himself apart in such a fashion. The void inside him will never be full, but he feeds it anyway, lets it feast on the thought.

Pete sighs and moves closer in his sleep. He is teetering on the edge of a precipice, but when Vegas calls his name, he only turns and smiles.

—

He says to Pete: ‘You’ll leave one day.’ They had all left in a row, with Mama leading the way. Now Papa is gone and Macau will leave them soon enough and then Pete will go, and once that’s done, he’ll go too.

‘Don’t say that.’

Pete always sees the good in him. He is the closest Vegas will ever get to filling that empty space inside himself.

Vegas thinks, If you stay, you will be swallowed alive.

‘It’s alright,’ he says. ‘No one will blame you.’

‘I don’t care if anyone would blame me,’ Pete says. ‘I only care about what I want, and that’s you.’

‘For now.’

His hand is shaking involuntarily at his side. Pete takes it in his own. Vegas can feel the smooth line of the scar on his palm.

‘My heart is here,’ says Pete. ‘I’m not leaving.’

‘You’ll die if you stay.’

‘I’ll die if I leave.’

’And if I order you to?’ says Vegas.

Pete says, ‘I don’t think you could.’

—

His father had beaten him like a dumb animal for so long that it’s impossible to see himself as human any longer. The man who had shot him at the poolside had only done what you do with dumb animals too old and broken to be of any use any longer, and it’s only Vegas’ bad luck that he didn’t finish the job.

He stays alive for Pete, and for Macau, and for the gnawing fear of dishonoring his father’s memory by taking the coward’s way out. But Papa would be disappointed in him for the pitiful thing he’s become anyway. There is no escape from his shame, no matter if he lives or dies.

He is nothing, always has been nothing, always will be nothing. He sees Pete and the way Pete sees him, with fondness and softness, and he feels a vicious stab of guilt for the deceit. The scream that builds and builds inside of him, every hour of every day, is begging for release. The force of it could level mountains.

‘What will it take for you to see sense?’ he says.

‘You have an odd definition of sense,’ says Pete. ‘Come here.’

Vegas does not. He feels as though the yawning emptiness inside him will pull him under, too. He says, venomously, ‘Why would you love me when my own papa couldn’t?’

‘Oh,’ Pete says, more of an exhalation than a word, as though he’s just been punched. He goes to put his arms around Vegas, and Vegas shoves at him with the heel of his good hand.

‘Tell me,’ he demands. He wants to hurt them both and he knows he has. He can see it reflected in Pete’s eyes and it twists the ache in his stomach even tighter.

Pete cradles his cheek in his hand. ‘He should have.’

‘But he didn’t.’

‘I know.’ Pete’s thumb strokes over his skin. ‘I’m sorry.’

Vegas swallows and says, ‘Then what did I do wrong?’

He doesn’t say, Because don’t want to do the wrong thing again. He doesn’t say, Because I can’t lose you.

But Pete knows, because Pete knows him with a clarity Vegas will never know of himself. He says, ‘You didn’t do anything. It wasn’t your fault. It was his.’

He doesn’t say, I’m not him. He doesn’t say, I told you I wouldn’t leave and I meant it.

But Vegas knows.

‘I want to be better,’ he says.

‘You’re good enough as you are. More than enough.’

Vegas is nothing. He is a small sad thing, a worthless, burdensome failure, a drowning man lost at sea.

But Pete is drawing him in anyway, patient as ever, gathering all the jagged, shattered pieces together with gentle hands, pulling him to shore and saying, Fall to your knees. The ground is solid. It will not fail you. It will not give way. You are safe. I am here.

I am here.

[lutawolf]

VegasPete from my Perspective Re-Cap

Warning:: You probably won't like what I have to say and I know several of you won't agree. Don't say you weren't warned.

To understand my perspective, we have to start a lot sooner than most think VegasPete started. I have made more than one post indicating that I felt that Pete had a minor crush on Vegas. That Vegas recognized it and teased Pete about it. You can read those opinions here under the VegasPete section. Episode 11 had me back stepping though. I'm not off course on Pete but I was off course on the depth of feelings that Vegas had for Pete. I'm sure that shocks you. I think everyone expects Vegas to fall hard but in my opinion, he started the fall sooner than Pete being captured. Why Luta!? Well, let me explain.

Now, I don't think either ever planned for them to come together. I think both expected to feel what they felt and never two shall meet, other than the bit of teasing/flirting Vegas does as pictured above. I believe that Vegas took note of Pete, when Pete stood up to Khun and wouldn’t tie up Macau. The only person that Vegas cares about and would willingly put before himself is his brother. So I do think this meant something to him. That’s also why he and his brother were more amused by Pete following them than upset.

Now somewhere between that time and the first dungeon torture scene in episode 7, Vegas became more than interested in Pete. This is speculation of course, you turn the painting a certain way and somebody will see something different, but I have a story going in my head and I don't see proof against it yet. Episode 7 in my opinion brought a lot of Vegas and Pete moments. Vegas recognizing Pete for the freak he is in that dungeon and offering Pete food on more than one occasion. As well as Pete paying respect to Vegas' mother. That's when Vegas really started showing his true face to Pete, no one else, just Pete. In the warehouse when they are in the thick of danger, Vegas checks on Pete. There were a lot of little things that people would call bread crumbs but for me, once put together, added up to a damn loaf. Yet at this point, I still didn't understand the depth of Vegas' feelings. I would have said that Pete felt more. That's what makes this pair so interesting, they are hard to read.

The story further continues in episode 9. Let me say that I truly believe that Pete has feelings for Vegas but is conflicted about those feelings. I'm basing this on previous actions and from the words he spoke in Korean while drunk, that he feels loyalty to Kinn and the family. Then he speaks of being separated from his love. Well who could Pete's love be? Was he just talking gibberish?

When Pete is sent to spy on Vegas once again. He tries to get out of it because he knows he is bad at it. He also knows he has conflicting feelings. Yet he tries to do his job and is caught. Once again Vegas’ full attention is on Pete, with the help of his brother they guide him into the temple. I want to point out that in all the interactions with Pete that Vegas has, he shows a large amount of humor and patience. We honestly don't see Vegas get angry at Pete until much later, never mind that Pete has been caught in situations where it would make sense for Vegas to be angry. We know that Vegas has a temper so why isn't he getting mad?

If you aren't familiar with a sadist, you would miss the whole by play of flirting that Vegas is doing. It looks like Vegas is just attempting to make Pete uncomfortable but it’s so much more. In true sadist style, Vegas flirts. He also reveals a lot. Which, I respect if others don't see what I do. Vegas is a master manipulator so he's hard to read but that temple scene was not just a simple by pass.

When it’s time to make merit, Vegas takes this very seriously, Vegas moves to proper sitting position. Pete offers to go get a different jug of water for Vegas. Vegas responds with sincerity looking Pete in the eyes. “We make merit together. So in the next life we will get to see each other again” Vegas is not playing, that statement was truth. I don't think a lot of people understood the how significant merit taking together is. Giving merit is fundamental to a lot of belief systems but essential in Buddhist ethics. It is a beneficial and protective energy, which accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts, or thoughts. Further more these merits brings good and wanted results, determines the quality of the next life. It contributes to a person's growth towards enlightenment. There is more but that's the basics. So, you see how important merit is and doing merit together is for families and couples. It's to bring them closer together and insure a place together in the next life. It's essentially putting your hand out, taking the other person's hand and saying "always and forever" While it's not a wedding vow, it's still a promise.

Now the moment that gave me pause was the above seen. Vegas always talks so respectfully to everyone, that's part of his mask but not Tawan. Tawan he literally talked to like he was irrelevant but then gave him a Dom apology before "killing" him. He looked him right in the eyes as he did it too. It made me realize two things, Vegas does prescribe to the D/s element and he isn't easy to read at all.

Then Vegas turns to shoot Porsche. He aims for the head here instead of the chest. Now we know we have to look deeper with Vegas so why would he aim for a head shot. To make sure Porsche doesn't suffer, just as he asked of Porsche himself. Now it's very important to note these two moments between Vegas, Tawan, and Porsche because it's going to be pretty important when discussing how he treats Pete.

Now we see an angry Vegas. It was also at this point that I realized how much Vegas cares for Pete. Don't get it twisted, I'm not saying him torturing Pete is okay. It's just my opinion that there is more depth there. Vegas is a Sadist without a doubt but as I pointed out all throughout episode seven, his excitement isn't usually amped like this. It shows differently. This, has everything to do with it being Pete and there are multiple layers to that.

A) Vegas is pissed, because he cares for Pete. Here is the guy he has shown his true self to, who paid respects to his mom, who he wants to spend his next life with, betraying him. Pete proved he is loyal to the main family and it pisses Vegas off. Do you know the strength and endurance it takes to torture someone?? I do. It’s a lot. You don’t get this level of angry intensity unless you are invested.

B) Vegas knows too much about Pete. A normal person can not take that level of pain but Vegas knew Pete could. This is someone he can get down and dirty with and he does. I'm not saying this is okay people. Just because Pete likes pain doesn't make this consensual. However, in my opinion, it was clear that Pete liked the pain and Vegas liked that.

That's all for Part 1. This is dedicated to several people @kinnswife @ellaspore @diazaid85 and of course coconuts mafia. I understand that this isn't going to fit with everyone and that's okay. I respect if you don't see what I see. If you want to discuss it, that's fine but don't come at me. Part 2 will cover Episode 11 part 1.

[myezblog]

Vegas, and when he is really hurt

Interesting..

Did you notice, Vegas never hits Pete after he himself gets hit or scolded by his dad. Hitting Pete mostly happens in isolated or non-dad scenarios, but never post dad’s interactions.

This is so powerful. This is true from the very beginning. 

Imagine, if someone hit you, and you are raging, would you not in turn hit someone or something to take out that anger? Moreover, if you already have someone whom you are beating up, wouldn’t you just go and beat them up? But, every single time Vegas chooses not to hit Pete. Infact, every time he goes soft on Pete.. infact every time he turns to him seeking his companionship in one way or the other

Scenario 1: Opening sequence

Pre-Dad Visit - Vegas is hitting Pete. Then gets to intimate touching to get to Pete (because one thing Vegas has figured out for sure is that suggestive plays make Pete very uncomfortable)

Post Daddy’s visit - At 3.41, daddy comes and slaps Vegas. Sequence of events - Vegas turns his back to Pete. Takes out his anger. And turns to Pete.

Even before he said this, you know he made up his mind when he turned around and sat on the chair (all the while he was not even looking at Pete).. 

In his pain and humiliation, the one thing he thinks of first, he plans first, he WANTS first is.. keeping pete..and puts that into action

Scenario 2: At the safehouse

Vegas is again beating Pete. Asking him to eat dogfood. Timestamp 25:35

Vegas apparently talking to dad. And clearly got scolded. The first thing he does is walk into the room where Pete is

You can see Pete is scared (wondering he will get hit because Vegas is in a temper.. and all Vegas asks is “what are you looking at”).. turns to his actual pet and talks to him (while we have Pete talking to himself wondering if Vegas is speaking to him or the hedgehog)

But, you see.. NO BEATING PETE..NO SHOUTING AT PETE.. NO GLARING EYES AT PETE...infact indirect conversation :P

Scenario 3: Almost dead scenario

Vegas again hits Pete. The belt scene and taser scene.

Dad comes, Vegas in white shirt, scolds and slaps Vegas and leaves. The first thing Vegas does is run to Pete.

Same pattern follows.. he is turned away from pete.. taking his anger out elsewhere

Sweet difference, this time Pete is not looking at him.. or shall we say.. Pete’s conscious self is not registered in this moment aka Pete is not there for Vegas. and this shakes him very very much

Scenario 4: Noodle scene

He again gets hit, and comes to Pete, and Pete is there.. looking at him.. not really offering sympathy.. but as a neutral observer

**************************************

What is Pete’s observation?

What i see as an audience, is safe to assume that Pete is also registering the same facts.

As an audience, I can see that when Vegas is hurt and highly likely being his true self.. he is actually softer.. and kinder and just looking for a companionship that does not look at him pitifully, that does not sympathize with him, but a companionship that just exists.. a companionship that gives him warmth just by telling him he is not alone.. he is not the only one existing in that moment.. he is with someone.. who is just an observer.. but a safe observer

Think of moments when you are so low that you don’t want to discuss or verbalize anything.. you don’t want to talk.. but you don’t want to be alone.. you want someone to be by your side.. to give you the warmth of a comfort .. but not ask questions

And then we also see.. when his dad is not in the equation, how cruel Vegas turns.. THE FAKE PERSONA.. and i ‘s assume Pete reads the same.. and that is why he is able to look past the torture and see the hurt soul.. and see that vegas by himself is not really someone who would choose voilence

*******************************************

How is Vegas Changing?

Lastly, the progression in Vegas’ approach with each scenario is noteworthy. And, beautifully captured in the scenes.

First time, he seeks Pete’s companionship very indirectly under the guise of “don’t be overjoyed.. this suffering will continue”. He is hiding his need so strongly.

Second time, he goes speaks to hedgehog. he wants to feel Pete’s presence.. but does it in a making fun manner. The veiled threat tone from scenario 1 is gone.

Third time: He is actually calling out and asking for Pete (”Don’t pretend you are asleep”)

Fourth time: He doesn’t need to ask for it indirectly. He doesn’t need to verbalize it anymore. just coming in and looking at Pete is enough!

[wildelydawn]

For Vegas, Living is/was Painful.

🚨tw: mentions of suicide🚨

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I can’t stop thinking about Vegas’ suicide attempt. I know that sounds kind of fucked up, but holy shit, is it such a loaded scene.

When he’s alone and staggering near the pool, Vegas is distressed. In that moment, maybe he realizes he’s a failure. He failed to overtake the Main family. His father is dead. Korn offering to take him and Macau in is humiliating for Vegas, so in the end, even his pride is gone. He won’t be able to take care of his brother, and for all he knows, Pete’s left him too. He has nothing left. 

His face in the next few frames is terrifying because as he realizes he has nothing left, he really realizes there’s absolutely nothing left, and because of that, he can die. He’s strangely calm (which is a very clear sign of a potential suicide attempt from a depressed person.) He wraps his hands around the gun and stares downwards at it. Fixates on it because it’s a way out. Living is too painful, and now that he truly has nothing, there’s no reason to keep going. Death would be far easier for someone like Vegas, who has been in pain for his whole life (the pain of loss, the pain of abuse, the pain of never being enough, the pain of heartbreak.)

Yet, when he’s ready, when he puts the gun under his chin, Pete comes in. And Vegas lets out this agonizing scream that really shook me.

To me, he screams because there is a reason to live, and therefore, he has to keep enduring pain because living, regardless of love, is painful. Life is pure agony for Vegas, it always has been, so he initially feels calm when he sees a way out. And then he is devastated when he hears Pete because Pete is a reason to keep going; at the same time, life isn’t simply happiness from here on out. Living, even with Pete, will be incredibly painful. And that’s why I find his scream is so chilling because Vegas is aware of the repercussions of living.

However, Vegas turns towards Pete.

Because maybe a life that has no guarantees of happiness or promises of being pain-free with Pete is worth a shot. He turns towards Pete because maybe with Pete, he can endure whatever pain, old and new, may come his way.

While the last scene in the hospital isn’t Vegas actually attempting suicide again, his words here are just as troublesome.

This idea of being a burden is one that weighs heavily on many suicidal people. Many people who attempt believe they are a burden to their loved ones, that they cannot offer their family and friends more. Vegas feels that because he has nothing material or tangible left, he must be a burden to Pete. That he will only inflict more pain onto Pete because that’s all he’s known.

What Pete says in response to Vegas’ fears is, at first, strange, isn’t it? Shouldn’t Pete try to persuade Vegas that he’s not a burden? Wouldn’t anyone do that to a suicidal person: try to convince them that life is worth living? Instead, Pete says something that is steeped in hope. Pete’s words are hopeful. They’re simple. They’re an affirmation that regardless of what pain will inevitably come Vegas’ way, Pete will be there because Vegas is in his heart, and Pete’s always going to follow that. For Pete, living is hopeful, and thus, finally, Vegas believes it too when the scene comes to a close.

[chalkrevelations]

ANYWAY, I guess it’s WIP Friday. I’ve been planning blindfolded Pete for a while now as part of the VP Arranged Marriage AU, and DH does NOT get to have blindfolded Pete, not like THAT, so here. Have some notes for one of the blindfold scenes, as a unicorn chaser for this week. Keep in mind that this is IN PROGRESS and notes-y. This is at some point after they’re arranged-married but before they’re actually sleeping together.

“Would you like me to kill him for you?” Pete says, now looking at Vegas, and Vegas is lucky he’s had plenty of practice at thinking on his feet, because otherwise all he’d be able to do is marvel at exactly HOW hard he just got. Pete sounds deadly serious, and this isn’t even like him being a trained attack dog on the main family leash, now doing Vegas’s bidding. No, this is Pete, offering this like a gift, like he might buy an expensive watch for his husband, if Vegas liked it.

Vegas can feel Pete’s gaze on his face, but he’s smart enough to not look back, because he knows, suddenly and surely, that if he gets a look at Pete now, in this moment, he’ll never be able to look away. And if there’s one thing Vegas is good at, it’s survival. So instead, he never takes his eyes off the asshole on the other side of the table, even as he curls his hand around Pete’s free hand, weaving their fingers together so they’re palm to palm, and raises it to his mouth to kiss Pete’s knuckles. He grins at the asshole across the table over the ridge of them and asks if they need any further assurance.

***

The first time Vegas blindfolds Pete is before a meeting with some supplier where Pete is going along for the main family rep he now provides, but also, a little bit as protection for Vegas, because the minor family – read, Vegas, himself – wants to manage the subtle insult of making it look like he’s only expecting to need to be lightly guarded with these dumbfucks, while not wanting to actually leave himself vulnerable. Vegas perversely both does and doesn’t want to go ahead and blindfold Pete in his bedroom, where Pete’s come, with a roll of his eyes, to have his outfit approved by Vegas, because Pete’s fashion sense - blunted by years in those awful bodyguard suits (the main family actually pays their tailor money?) - has in no way recovered to the point where Vegas is willing to be seen with him unless he’s been vetted first. [Something goes here about Vegas’s satisfaction over knowing that Pete is, pretty much, dressed for him, and how that settles something in his chest that he’s trying more and more not to think about – this is going to require an entire earlier scene to reference back to, a scene dealing with some of the layers involved with Vegas and Pete negotiating the rules for when and how much approval Vegas gets over how Pete dresses, ffs Vegas, and what kind of satisfaction Vegas gets when he looks at Pete and knows not only that Pete’s wearing clothes Vegas has bought for him, but that Pete is consciously and deliberately dressing himself – at least sometimes – in ways that will please Vegas. Also, hah. Something about what Pete actually is wearing, here.]

Putting the blindfold on Pete in his room would mean getting to lead Pete all the way through the winding halls and down the stairways of Vegas’s home, his stronghold - dependent on Vegas’s every move for safety, following Vegas’s every word - but then, the thought of anyone but him seeing Pete that vulnerable eats away at the warm, satisfied feeling Vegas gets seeing Pete in clothes that so clearly mark him as Vegas’s. So he waits until they’re standing together outside in the bright midafternoon sun, waiting for the car to pull up, before he pulls out the strip of black fabric and holds it up, waving it a little bit at Pete. Pete looks at him narrowly in response.

The location where they’re meeting is protected minor family intel, Vegas tells him. He can’t expect to continue professing himself a main family member, even by proxy, and just be allowed to walk in. Would Vegas be allowed to just go wherever he wanted, even in the main family compound?

He can see the way Pete’s jaw firms, a little mulish, before he says, “fine,” and closes his eyes.

Vegas puts the blindfold on him from the front, hoping to see at least another twitch, but Pete is as bland-faced as he ever was while standing against the wall behind Kinn at family meetings - at least until Vegas smooths his thumbs over Pete’s eyesockets under the soft fabric, fingers cupping his face, and Pete jumps, the way he had when Vegas used to clap his shoulder, back in the day, and his breath stutters in a quick, barely-there little gasp.

Neither of them is expecting the way Pete leans on Vegas just a little bit when Vegas takes his arm to help him into the car. Pete’s not privy to the way Vegas’s heart gives a slow double-thump as Pete obediently lowers his head under Vegas’s touch to get in, Vegas cupping the back of Pete’s skull with one palm to be sure he clears the car doorway. Neither of them are expecting the way Pete goes sleepy-soft five minutes into the drive, where the only sound is the quiet hum of the wheels and Vegas keeps one hand circled around Pete’s wrist on Pete’s thigh; neither of them are expecting the way Pete lists a little toward Vegas in his seat when the car finally slows to a stop at the safehouse meeting location. Pete’s a little uncharacteristically clumsy, leans on Vegas a little more, as he climbs out of the car, and as he almost stumbles, Vegas catches him with a hand under one elbow, fingers tight and thumb pressed into the soft flesh of Pete’s forearm where his sleeve is rolled up, hard enough to maybe leave a bruise, later. Pete looks a little dazed, softer than Vegas has ever seen him, when the blindfold comes off, and he turns his head toward Vegas’s hand, looking for all the world like he’s going to try to nestle his cheek into Vegas’s palm, when Vegas brushes his bangs back into place off his forehead, fixing the halfway decent haircut Vegas insisted on instead of that dumb “don’t notice me” bowlcut Pete spent his time looking out at the main family from under.

Vegas’s heart gives another little double-thump as he says, “Hey, wake up, ok? Wake up for me,” and Pete’s eyes meet his at “for me,” and Pete gives a nod, taking a deep breath before rolling his shoulders and stamping his feet a bit and patting himself down in all the places where he keeps the weapons that Vegas is allowed to know about. He lets Vegas take his hand as they walk into the house, into the big dining room where the meeting’s going to be held.

Vegas keeps his hand over Pete’s hand, obvious and in everyone’s face - the hand with the ring on it, and not the family ring, no – on the table where they sit beside each other as the meeting starts. [blah blah blah insert drug supply shenanigans] At some point, when Pete makes a comment – some kind of probing question - the other side of the table makes some kind of reply about doubting this … UNION between the main and minor families.

Pete smiles in response, a sharp smile so unlike the dumbass grin that Vegas has seen in the main family mansion, and asks how they would like him to prove his commitment to Vegas and their common mind on these matters. Vegas’s traitorous brain has a split-second to flash up the image of himself getting to fuck Pete on the conference table in front of everyone like some kind of porno, before Pete continues “Would you like me to kill you for him?” and Pete has one of his guns out, pointing it at the annoying guy across the table, other hand still under Vegas’s on the table, although Vegas can feel how tense he’s suddenly gotten.

“Would you like me to kill him for you?” Pete says, now looking at Vegas, and Vegas is lucky he’s had plenty of practice at thinking on his feet, because otherwise all he’d be able to do is marvel at exactly HOW hard he just got. Pete sounds deadly serious, and this isn’t even like him being a trained attack dog on the main family leash, now doing Vegas’s bidding. No, this is Pete, offering this like a gift, like he might buy an expensive watch for his husband, if Vegas liked it.

Vegas can feel Pete’s gaze on his face, but he’s smart enough to not look back, because he knows, suddenly and surely, that if he gets a look at Pete now, in this moment, he’ll never be able to look away. And if there’s one thing Vegas is good at, it’s survival. So instead, he never takes his eyes off the asshole on the other side of the table, even as he curls his hand around Pete’s free hand, weaving their fingers together so they’re palm to palm, and raises it to his mouth to kiss Pete’s knuckles. He grins at the asshole across the table over the ridge of them and asks if they need any further assurance, sitting back and letting Pete’s hand go only long enough for Pete to put away his gun as the asshole assures them that no, no. They seem perfectly legit.

“I’M getting tired of people underestimating you,” Vegas tells Pete afterward, as they wait, jittery from adrenaline and still on alert, for the car to pull around and pick them up , and Pete kind of shrugs and gives him another of those small, almost real, smiles.

“It happens,” he says, and, it certainly fucking DOES, Vegas thinks, studying him now, because he’d even managed to fool Vegas for so long in the main family mansion, managed to keep even Vegas’s eyes sliding right over him and away.

“Where did you learn that move?” Vegas asks him now, and Pete gives him a look like Vegas is the crazy one.

“From watching Khun Kinn, of course,” Pete says.

Vegas is a little bit uncomfortable at the idea that he got SO turned on by Pete play-acting some “What would Kinn do?” script, but the car pulls up before he can really get too jammed up in his head about it, and then Pete’s just standing there, looking at Vegas, fathomless dark eyes, even after Vegas opens the door for him, until Vegas cups the back of Pete’s head again to guide him into the car, and Pete releases his breath like he’s been holding it since he pulled out his gun, and he bows his head, just as biddable as earlier even though he can see where he’s going this time, and he climbs into the car under Vegas’s touch. He holds very very still as Vegas puts the blindfold back on him. If there’s the faintest, finest tremor in Vegas’s fingers while he does so, while he smooths back Pete’s bangs again so they’re not caught, so they don’t pull, if the catch is in Vegas’s breath this time, neither of them says anything, and they’re both ready to startle like wild animals at first, but as the car gets moving, Vegas deliberately makes himself settle back into the seat.

“Come here,” he says, reaching out, remembering, and there, again, that softening, almost imperceptible, as he closes his fingers around Pete’s wrist, pulls Pete to lean back beside him. They sit there as Pete’s breathing evens out, gets slower, deeper, and this time when he lists toward Vegas, Vegas pulls him to lean on his shoulder and tells Nop to take the long route home.

[daltoneering]

Fire, water and smoke imagery in ep 13

Ok, lots to get into here, so hopefully this doesn't get too long! I actually decided to do a separate post for the pool scene because trying to fit all my thoughts about it here would be too much, so definitely check that out as well.

The first shot I want to talk about is this one from early on in the episode:

Look at that framing! Kinn and Porsche are divided by the same fountain that Porsche walked past on his way into the main mafia family complex in episode 1. I discussed early in my water and fire thoughts about how water represents the main mafia family (at times, and at other times it just represents Kinn)—here I think we're back at that symbolism again. Porsche is aware that whatever his backstory is, it has something to do with the main family, and that's what's separating them. Not only is the fountain separating them visually, but the path leading up to it is separating them physically—a foreshadowing of where Porsche's journey of discovery is going to take him.

Porsche is smoking again in the scene in which he's reflected in the mirror (more thoughts on that here!). As his actions take on more of a mafia-lean—keeping secrets and hiding things—he comforts himself with the familiarity of smoking.

Kinn takes the cigarette off him, and asks him if he's stressed—he knows how to read Porsche now, and can clearly see that this isn't just a relaxed indulgence. And then tells him that he should put something else in his mouth instead <3 whore (affectionate). But actually I think this is super interesting because in ep 8 Porsche gave up smoking because Kinn was his comfort now, and although he has smoked between now and then, here he is doing it specifically as a comfort and stress-reliever—instead of, as Kinn suggests, finding comfort in Kinn.

Korn is sitting once again by the main mafia family central pool—although, interestingly, not centrally on it this time as he was in episode 5. The scene in ep 5, with the chess and reflections and hidden agendas, was loaded with questions about what Korn was doing and why—and this episode starts to reveal the answers to some of those questions to us.

We still don't have all the answers even by the end of the episode, but the fact that he doesn't feel that he needs to place himself in that central seat of power anymore feels telling to me. He's got Kinn and Porsche where he wants them: under his thumb, back in the main family complex. Or so he thinks. He doesn't have control of Porsche, and he is never going to.

No Korn, it absolutely is not! Not with this show!!

To reiterate my point above: smoking is most often associated with Porsche in this series, and Korn smoking a cigar here is another indicator of the fact that he thinks he has won. He hasn't.

I also think it's interesting that Kinn called both him and Porsche out on it—he smoked himself in ep 10, but I said at the time and I still would maintain that that was mostly about him taking on this thing of Porsche's and bringing some balance to their relationship. Kinn is not a big smoker. And I think him calling Korn out on it here in relation to his health could very possibly be some foreshadowing—it's easy to forget the reason why Korn is in the process of handing the family running over to him, but it's because he's got health problems.

A real fire! The first one since ep 2! Finally I feel justified in having "fire" in my post title...

Ah, Pete's funeral... (RIP Big, you had a proper ceremony in my heart.) I think the main imagery that I got from this scene other than the burning of paper money was the symbolism of fire for rebirth—Pete comes back from the dead amidst a blaze of smoke, much like Porsche's phoenix. I've seen a good bit of discussion about Kinn and Vegas being foils or paralleling each other, and I would love to see more for Porsche and Pete!

And the final item for this post:

Another Porsche/Pete parallel, this time with when Vegas offered Porsche a light in ep 4. Pete is trying to get some relief by smoking, but he immediately spits out his cigarette when he realises who is offering him that relief.

Pool scene thoughts here! (Which sort of bridge the gap between water imagery and reflections)

(Reflections and mirrors in this episode / all fire/water/smoking thoughts for previous episode / series tag)

[thequeenofsastiel]

KinnPorsche Episode 14 Review-I found it all somewhat interesting and then VegasPete happened and I realized the rest of it didn't matter

The title says it all

Okay, let’s do this.

I found it strange that Vegas promised Porsche that he’d keep Pete safe, but didn’t try to get Pete out of the way before the extremely dangerous gun fight. Pete very easily could have died, and I find it confusing that Vegas didn’t try to protect him more, given his love for Pete.

I wish Porsche’s memory issue had been explored and explained a little more. Admittedly I don’t know how likely it is that discovering that your memories of a traumatic event were completely wrong could cause Porsche’s symptoms, though, so 🤷‍♀️

I love the way Kim comforted Tankhun after they were lied to about Korn dying.

I want to feel annoyed about Kinn grabbing Porsche’s dick during the gun battle, but the problem is that it’s completely in character. I absolutely believe that Kinn is so horny for Porsche that regardless of what’s going on around him Kinn will still feel the need to do something sexual with Porsche. Also I kind of feel like Kinn thinks that he might die so he might as well squeeze his boyfriend’s dick one last time.

Vegas’s feelings about Porsche are so all over the place. Like he sincerely wants to help him and then wants to cruelly kill him to torture Kinn. But I don’t think Vegas is particularly well adjusted or emotionally stable, so I suppose it makes sense.

The whole thing with Kim fighting a battle while Porchay is completely oblivious with his headphones on is an overdone trope imo and was a little tedious to watch. But to be fair I in general find fight scenes a little tedious, so I’m not comfortable definitively saying that it was objectively boring. Then again all art is subjective so I’ll just say that I found it boring.

Honestly I find all fight scenes boring. It’s just a bunch of actors jumping around pretending to shoot each other. The only fight scenes I ever find mildly interesting are ones in fantasy or sci-fi. It’s why I rarely watch action movies, and am only watching this show for the romances and a few of the side characters I like(Arm, Pol, Tankhun). The power struggles at the meetings I do find somewhat interesting, because I like the tension. But fight scenes themselves just don’t do it for me.

However, they did feel appropriate in this episode, regardless of how interesting I personally found them. It was the climax of all these issues between the two families, and necessary, imo.

The plot with Namphuenge is still silly to me. And literally the ONLY reason for that is that Porsche came to work for Korn entirely coincidentally. I get that the show wanted there to be an exciting meet cute, but I feel like they could have done it in a way that made it so that Korn engineered their meeting. Not Kinn just randomly coming across Porsche and getting his help. So I feel like that cut the emotion from the scene. I just kept rolling my eyes at the absurdity the whole time.

If Korn really sent Thee to protect Porsche and Porchay then he clearly didn’t care that much as he didn’t replace him when he realized Thee was unreliable.

Porsche becoming leader of the minor family is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I can only assume that Korn has ulterior motives, because there’s no way he can genuinely think that Porsche would be a good leader. Porsche has literally no experience, he’s not remotely ruthless enough, and, I’m sorry, but I just don’t think he’s clever enough to be an effective leader. He’s lovable, he’s kind, but he’s not smart enough to do that.

And perhaps that’s Korn’s whole plan. Porsche will be entirely reliant on Kinn, and, if they break up, Porsche won’t be able to challenge him. If he was able to beat Kinn, I think it’s likely that it’d be pure happenstance.

What I DO find less believable is that Porsche would accept Korn’s offer. He didn’t really want to be a part of that life in the first place. His one goal all along has been to protect Porchay. Becoming leader of the minor family puts Porchay in even more danger. I just can’t buy that Porsche wants power so much that he’s willing to do that.

I don’t really care enough about Porchay and Kim to comment on their scenes this episode, apologies to those who are fans of them. I just feel like Kim has been too erratic in his behavior towards Porchay for me to feel any investment in their relationship. If I was Porchay I would drop him and look for someone who would treat me better. But Porchay is young, and spent a long time looking at Kim with hero worship. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Kim was able to win him back.

I suppose the final boat scene was cute enough, the problem is that I don’t really care about Kinn and Porsche all that much anymore, and spent the whole time hoping that the scene would end so I could get more VegasPete.

Which brings me to my favorite parts of the episode.

VegasPete

Oh, VegasPete

My love.

My conflicted, conflicted love for them.

Everything about their relationship flies in the face of all that I know is good and healthy and consensual. But it hits me right where I’m the most vulnerable emotionally. They’re deeply, violently kinky, and that just does it for me, and no amount of trying to talk myself out of loving the two of them together has worked.

So I’m just gonna do what Pete did, and give into that love, and try desperately to not feel guilty about it.

Now that we’ve established my conflicted feelings, let’s talk about them.

I adored that Vegas got so soft when he saw Pete. That he couldn’t remotely bring himself to hurt Pete. Even when Vegas pinned Pete down, he didn’t do it violently. And he let Pete hit him repeatedly. I don’t believe for a second that Vegas couldn’t have fought him off if he wanted to. He let Pete express his rage. Perhaps one could interpret that as Vegas being submissive, but I more think it’s that Vegas was willing to do anything to get Pete back. And I don’t think Pete was being dominant. I think Pete was fighting the part of himself that had fallen for Vegas, that needed Vegas. He was trying to prove to himself that he was strong enough to not love Vegas.

But he failed. And I believe that was demonstrated later in the episode, when he left the main family behind, and ran after Vegas, calling himself Vegas’s pet, and Vegas his owner. He allowed himself to be entirely vulnerable, and saying he was hungry was his way of begging Vegas to take care of him. He gave in completely, and it was beautiful to see. I had tears in my eyes watching it. The way Pete screamed and wept when Vegas was shot was fucking heartbreaking.

Sidenote, no fucking way Vegas survives that many shots in the abdomen with the medical technology we have today. Even if he was brought to a doctor right that second, there isn’t a chance in hell he’d survive that.

The way they kissed and snuggled at the end was adorable. If they aren’t the focus of season 2 it’ll be a fucking crime.

It’s hard to judge this episode, tbh, because the rest of it pales in comparison to the VegasPete bits, at least for me. I’ll try to separate the two once again.

The VegasPete segments get a 10/10

The rest gets a 6/10

[thatgirl4815]

Craving Dominance (Vegas)

// Ep11 Preview

This could mean absolutely nothing, but I was thinking back to Porsche’s drugging scene from Ep4, specifically Vegas’s line: “A guy like me doesn’t like to force anyone.”

At this point, we have no reason to trust anything Vegas says or does—and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was just a typical rapey line—but I wonder if this will come into play with Pete at all. As in, I wonder if this applies to torture settings. We already have evidence that Vegas is a sadist, and we’ve been given the impression that he enjoys it when his victims beg. But having to exert effort to force that reaction out of someone? Maybe Vegas likes that challenge, but I’d bet that he doesn’t like the idea of someone resisting him for long. He craves the feeling of dominance he gets from besting someone. When Pete laughs in his face, it’s a threat to his power, because Vegas’s entire goal is eliciting the opposite reaction. This is especially true following the events of Ep10; his manipulations have failed, so he turns to a reliable source of satisfaction. Because when it comes to torture, Vegas never fails. He prides himself on his ability to inflict pain on others.

Take Pete’s torture scene. Vegas doesn’t waste time choosing his weapon. Though he taunts Pete with an axe, I’d argue that he was always planning to use the cables. I don’t know exactly where shocking/electrocution falls on the pain scale, but it seems fair to say that it’s high up on the list. While I do believe that Vegas was always planning to use this weapon on Pete, I think Pete’s challenging behavior is what pushes Vegas to use it first. Vegas is angry, so he understandably wants to inflict as much pain as possible on his victim (well, it’s far from understandable, but it makes sense considering Vegas’s character). When Pete does not express fear, I think it pushes Vegas to go for the cruelest, most vulgar option right off the bat a) because he blames Pete for his downfall and b) because he thinks Pete will be easy to break.

Ep11 Preview Analysis

From what we see in the Ep11 preview, Vegas turns Pete’s torture into a game. As I said, I don’t think Vegas is used to defiance from his victims, and once he’s over the initial anger at Pete’s challenging behavior, I think his desire to break Pete will become an obsession. The initial torture was physical, but Vegas will likely combine physical pain with emotion pain to ratchet up the intrigue.

Additionally, unlike previous episode previews, I think this one gives us a pretty good idea of what to expect. As Apo said, the final four episodes will give a lot of Vegas background. Vegas’s interaction with his father in the preview hints at that.

There’s so much pent-up anger burning in this one look. Vegas wants control so badly over something. At this point, all he has left is Pete. So when his father tells him to clean up his mess and presumably either return Pete or dispose of him, Vegas pushes back. We’ve only gotten a little glimpse into Vegas’s relationship with his father, but it’s clearly rife with tension. Vegas pursued Porsche after his father inquired about him, so we know Vegas wants to please him; however, I wouldn’t be surprised if, more than anything, Vegas wishes to break free of his father’s influence. I think that’s part of the reason why he has such a close relationship with his brother—with a cold, demanding father, Vegas feels the need to be there for Macau. He’s oddly loving where Macau is concerned, which also seems intentional—it offers him at least one humanizing quality that the show will likely highlight in upcoming episodes.

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Alright, not the only long post I’ve put out recently, so hopefully it’s not too much of a drag. I have a lot of thoughts about where the show could go from here and Vegas’s potential as a villain, so I had to get them all out there. If anybody has anything to critique or add, I’d love to hear it. :)